Hotel loyalty programs offer points or free night certificates in order to help frequent customers earn lucrative rewards for their stays and/or spend. However, not all free night certificates are created equal. Free night certificates, or FNCs (we’ll refer to them as FNCs for the sake of brevity) help customers book one free night based on certain terms and conditions. So how do Hilton’s FNCs work? Let’s have a look.
Hilton Free Night Certificates
So how are Hilton’s FNCs different? Compared to some of their peers, Hilton’s FNCs have no restrictions in the way of:
- Maximum number of points you can redeem a free night for (no capping of points like Marriott)
- Any category restrictions (like Hyatt)
In the case of Hilton, you can redeem an FNC as long as the property has a standard room available. Also, in the past, Hilton used to restrict FNC redemptions to weekends. That’s not the case any more. In short, you can redeem an FNC as long as a standard room is available during any day of the week.
How to earn free night certificates
You can earn free night certificates in three different ways:
- When you meet minimum spend for a welcome bonus (based on the offer)
- When you are approved for or renew your Hilton Aspire card
- When you meet annual spend thresholds on Hilton’s co-branded consumer credit cards
Welcome Bonuses
Currently, American Express is offering three amazing welcome bonuses. You can not only earn points, but also earn free night certificates. Bear in mind that these limited time offers expire on August 13, 2025.
| Credit Card | Free Night Certificates | Welcome Bonus Offer | Application Link | Complimentary Elite Status |
| Hilton Aspire Card | Upon account opening and renewal, another after $30k spend, another after $60k spend in a calendar year | 175,000 Hilton Honors points + 1 free night certificate | Click Here | Diamond |
| Hilton Surpass Card | $15k spend in a calendar year | 130,000 Hilton Honors points & $0 annual fee for the first year | Click Here | Gold |
| Hilton Honors Card | None for annual spend | 100,000 points & $100 in statement credits | Click Here | Silver |
FAQs
Let’s cover some of the frequently asked questions.
How do I redeem my FNC?
You can redeem by calling Hilton’s customer service number at 1-800-HHONORS. You cannot redeem an FNC on the Hilton website.
Can I book a single stay with more than one FNC?
Yes, as long as the property has standard rooms available for that many nights, you can do it. Simply let the customer care rep know you want to book a multiple night stay using your FNCs.
Can I combine points and FNCs into a single stay?
Yes, you can! Simply tell the rep that you want x nights using points and y nights using FNCs
What are the terms and conditions for cancelling or making changes to an FNC reservation?
You will be subject to the same policy that a property may levy for a points reservation. The rep will specify the policy while booking and you will get an email confirming the deadline up to when you can cancel or make a change.
Which properties qualify for the use of an FNC?
You can use the FNC whenever a standard room is available at any property worldwide. Here is the list of properties that are not bookable using FNCs.
How many people can stay in a room?
In general, FNCs only allow you to book a standard room with double occupancy. Any additional guests may be charged extra.
When is the FNC issued?
The FNC is usually issued 8-14 weeks after you meet the requirements, be it by way of a welcome bonus or for meeting annual spend on a qualifying credit card.
When to FNCs expire?
FNCs expire one year after they are issued.
How I have used my FNCs (and what the stays looked like)
Here’s a list of properties where I’ve used my FNCs over the last few years:
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Hilton Amingiri Maldives Resort & Spa
- Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri
- Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Thailand
- Grand Wailea Maui
- Hilton Waikoloa Village
- Conrad Dubai
- Hilton Cartegena, Colombia
- Hilton Playa del Carmen (all-inclusive resort), Mexico
The Pundit’s Mantra
Over the last half a decade, free night certificates have gone a long way in helping me book some really memorable stays, be it doing one Maldives trip after another, or booking stays at properties all around the world, from mainland US, Hawaii and New Zealand to Thailand, the UAE, India and Mexico.
What’s been your favorite stay using your Hilton FNCs? Tell us in the comments section.
No annual fee Hilton Honors Card: Click here for the 100,000 points & $100 credit
Hilton Surpass Card: Click here for the 130,000 points & $0 intro annual fee
Hilton Aspire Card: Click here for the 175,000 points & 1 free night offer
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New Credit Card Offers
Chase Sapphire Cards
- Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $500 statement credit with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
- Earn 200,000 bonus points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card for Business
Co Branded Hilton Honors Cards
- Earn 100,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit with the Hilton Honors American Express card
- No fee for the first year, earn 130,000 bonus points with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card
- Earn 175,000 bonus points with the Hilton Aspire card, in addition to 1 free night certificate each year
- Earn 175,000 bonus points with the Hilton Business Card
Co-branded Delta SkyMiles cards
- No annual fee for the first year, earn 80,000 bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- No fee for the first year, earn 90,000 bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
- Earn 110,000 bonus miles with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
Marriott Credit Cards
- Earn 60,000 points and 1 free night with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card by Chase
- Earn 5 free nights with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card
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We just used a free night certificate at the Waldorf Astoria monarch Beach hotel in Dana Point. Due to the diamond status we have with the Aspire card we got a double upgrade to an ocean view room. This property provides $25 per person food credit.
We have eight credit cards that provide quarterly or semi-annual credit toward stays or towards a resort property which this was.
That was enough to cover all of our meals as well as the valet parking.
@pauldavis: that’s an amazing redemption!
Helpful stuff for sure. Thanks.
If I have or get a Surpass card, spend the $15,000 to get a free night certificate, upgrade to the Aspire card then spend another $15,000 will I get three free night certificates? Thanks for any insight.
@Christian: No you will get only 2 certs, 15k for spend on Surpass, the next 15k post upgrade will be counted as 15k spend on Aspire. Also:
a) You will need to carry the Surpass card for at least a year before they’ll let you upgrade,
b) You can spend the $15k in a calendar year and get the certificate, but as per the T&Cs, it takes 8-12 weeks for the cert to be issued. Once you receive it, it will be valid for another year. That is qualifying spend of 15k on Surpass
c) So let’s say you spend the 15k then receive the cert and have had the Surpass card for more than a year, you can now upgrade to Aspire and get another cert in 8-12 weeks after your upgrade is complete . Now once you spend 15k on that card, that’s 15k spend on Aspire, you can’t add up the 15k spent on Surpass as they’re different products.
“Basic Card Members can receive a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after the total eligible purchases on their Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Account reach $30,000 or more in a calendar year. Basic Card Members can receive an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after making an additional $30,000 in purchases that year, totaling $60,000 or more in cumulative purchases in that calendar year. Each Free Night Reward will be issued in the form of a redeemable code and sent to the Basic Card Member via email from Hilton Honors to the email address listed on their Hilton Honors account. Basic Card Members will receive the Reward email within 8-12 weeks after meeting the purchase requirement(s). This benefit is only available to the Basic Card Member; however, eligible purchases made by Additional Card Members will contribute to the purchase requirement(s).”